Pile fabric and method of manufacture



Sept. 1, 1953 J. CRAWFORD PILE FABRIC AND METHOD OF M-ANUFACTURE Filed July 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 o NAAN lag', IY 10 Alp/N 1 's i n X INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1953 J. CRAWFORD PILE FABRIC AND METHoD oF MANUFACTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1951 Sept. 1, 1953 J. CRAWFORD PILE FABRIC AND METHOD OF' MANUFACTURE INVENTOR @"Z ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 27, 1951 Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES @TENT OFFICE PILE FABRIC AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Application July 27, 1951, Serial No. 238,946

(Cl. 13B- 39) lil Claims. l

This invention relates to pile fabrics and their manufacture by weaving operations, in which pile wires are inserted in the warp shed and pile warp yarns are raised over the wires to form the elements of a pile surface. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel method of weaving pile fabrics having a pile surface made up of pile loops lying in transverse rows, each such row having a full complement of loops and any given row containing loops of a plurality of heights, and, if desired, of as many as six different heights. The invention further comprehends novel pile fabrics made by the method.

In my Patent 2,553,303, dated May 15, 1951, I have described a method of making pile fabrics on a pile wire loom employing a set of pile wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end. In the practice of the patented method, the pile warp yarns are maintained under relatively slack tension, while all the other warps are under the usual heavy tension, The wires are inserted into the warp sheds in the usual way and pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern are raised over the wires. The sheds are opened in a cycle and, in each shed following that, in which a wire is inserted, the pile warp yarns all lie in the lower line of the shed and above the stufer warps and certain of the binder warps, while the remaining binder warps lie in the upper line of the shed. A lling yarn is inserted in the second shed referred to and, as the yarn is being beaten up, the shed is closed earlier than is customary, with the result that the `filling yarn bears upon the pile warp yarns and pushes them ahead of it to cause portions of them to rise above the yarn. When the reed strikes the wire inserted in the first of the two sheds causes it to stand erect, the portions of the pile warp yarns raised over the wire, which were pushed up by the action of the nlling yarn in the beatdip, become taut and eng-age the relatively tightly. The portions of the rening pile warp yarns raised by the filling yarn are then formed into loops held against the rear surface of the wire by the beatenmp filling yarn. The height of the loops formed against the rear surface of the wire be varied by varying the timing of the shedding motion, the tension on the pile warp yarns, etc., and, ordinarily, such loops are lower than those raised over the wire. When the wire is withdrawn, the loops lying against the rear surface of the wire shift into alignment with those formed over the wire, so that there is produced a single transverse row of loops rising between adjacent filling yarns and including, if desired, loops of two different heights.

The method of the patent may be used advan tageously in the production of pile fabrics having decorative effects in the pile surface with the high loops, for example, forming gure areas and the low loops forming the ground. Such effects could be enhanced, if it were possible to include loops of more than two heights in the pile, since more elaborate designs with variations in shading, etc., could be produced.

The present invention is, accordingly, directed to the provision of a method of weaving pile fabries, which involves the utilization of the principles of the method of the patent but can be employed in producing fabrics, in which pile loops of as many as six different heights are present, the loops of different height being distributed, as required by the pattern, vand a single transverse row of loops containing loops of all six heights, if desired.

fn the practice of the new method, the desired results are obtained by the use of spoon wires, that is, wires, which have a blade of uniform height throughout its length and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade. Such wires of particular heights for the blade and spoon are employed alone in the production of a fabric having loops of four different heights and are used in a manner to be described in combination with plain wires, that is, wires having a blade of uniform height from end toend, in the production of a fabric having loops of five or siX different heights. In the practice of the method with the wires referred to, the height of loops formed without the use of wires is selected by variation of the pile warp tension, timing of the closing of the shed, etc., in relation to the dimensions of the wires employed.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one form of spoon wire, which may be used in the practice of the new method;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one forni of fabric, which can be made by the new method and includes pile loops of four different heights;

3 6, inclusive, lare longitudinal sectional views of a fabric being made in accordance with the method of the invention, the respective figures showing the manner of manipulating the pile warp yarns to produce the four longitudinal rows of loops present in the fabric of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View through a fabric being made in accordance with a modification of the new method, in which wires of two kinds are used;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. '1, but showing the fabric after removal of the wires;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a typical fabric made in accordance with the method illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through a fabric being made in accordance with another modification of the new method, in which wires of two kinds are used;

Fig, ll is a view similar to Fig. 1), but showing the fabric after removal of the wires; and

Fig. l2 is a transverse sectional view of a typical fabric made in accordance with the method illustrated in Fig. 10.

The fabric shown in Fig. 2 has a backing of a conventional type, which comprises stuffer warps 2li, filling yarns 2l, 22 inserted above and below the stuifer warps, respectively, to lie in upper and lower levels, and binder warps 23, 24 in two sets, which bind the filling yarns in place. The fabric has a pile surface formed by pile warp yarns 25, which are bound in place by the filling yarns between adjacent pairs of binder warps and are raised between each two adjacent filling yarns 2l in the upper level to form pile loops. The pile of the fabric illustrated has loops of four different heights, the loops being designated 26, 21, 2S, and 2Q, respectively, in the order of increasing height, and it will be observed that, in the portion of the fabric shown, each transverse row of loops raised between adjacent filling yarns is made up of a loop of each cf the four heights.

In the production of the fabric shown in Fig. 2 by the method of the invention, a set of wires 3U of the construction shown in Fig. l is employed Wire 30 has a blade 3l of uniform height throughout its length and has a spoon 32 at the free end of the blade, that is, at the end of the blade, that trails when the wire is withdrawn. The height rz of spoon 32 is substantially higher than the height b of blade 3l, the difference in the two heights being indicated at c. rllhe relative heights of the spoon and blade may vary within wide limits, but, ordinarily, the height of the spoon is less than twice that of the blade.

In the `weaving of the fabrics of Fig. 2 by the new method, the pile warp yarns are maintained under relatively slack tension, the remaining warps are maintained under the usual heavy tension, and, in certain sheds, all the pile warp yarns lie in a lower line and are displaced upwardly from binder and stuffer warps in that line. W hen the lling yarn inserted in such a shed is beaten up, it pushes the slack pile warp yarns ahead of it, as I have explained in my Patent 2,553,303, and raises portions of those yarns to form loops lying against the rear surface of the wire inserted into the preceding shed. The loops so pushed up by the action of the filling yarns may vary considerably in height but, in the fabric illustrated, the height of the pushed-up loops is less than that of the blade of the spoon wires. The wires 30 are inserted into the sheds in such manner that the spoon lies beyond and outside of the shed, the pile warp yarns selected by the pattern thus being raised over the blade of each wire.

After all the wires 3G in the set have been inseretd into the respective sheds, the first wire is withdrawn and reinserted in a shed at the end of the set. As a wire is withdrawn, the passage of its spoon through the loops of yarn raised over the blade of the wire increases the height of those loops by the difference c between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the wire. At the same time, the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding row is decreased by the difference c between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the wire. The withdrawal of a wire does not change the height of any loop, which was raised to lie against the rear face of the wire, but such loops move into alignment with the loops, from which the wire was withdrawn. The withdrawal of a wire thus leaves a transverse row of loops consisting of loops of maximum height, namely, the height of the spoon, and loops, which were produced by being pushed up against the rear face of the wire.

When the second wire in the set is withdrawn, the height of the loops of all the yarns raised over the blade of the wire is increased and the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding row is decreased, as above explained. Accordingly, if a yarn is raised over both wires. the withdrawal of the iirst wire leaves a loop of that yarn of maximum height in the first transverse row and the withdrawal of the second wire reduces the height of the loop of that yarn in the nrst row by the difference c between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the wire. The loop in the i'lrst row is thus converted from a loop of maximum height to a loop of next to the maximum height.

If a yarn raised over one wire is not raised over the succeeding wire but is formed into a loop lying against the rear face of the second wire, the withdrawal of the first wire will produce a loop of the yarn of maximum height in the first row and the withdrawal of the second wire will not alter the height of that loop. If a yarn is raised into a loop lying against the rear surface of the first wire and is then raised over the second wire, the `withdrawal of the first wire will not alter the height of the loop lying against its rear face and the loop will remain as a loop of next to the lowest height. The withdrawal of the second wire will, however, reduce the height of the loop in the first row by the distance c, and the loop will then be reduced to one of the lowest height.

The manipulation of the pile warp yarns 25 in relation to the wires 30 to produce the longitudinal row of loops I in the fabric of Fig. 2 is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which it will be observed that, beginning at the left, the yarn 25 has been raised against the rear surface of the first wire 30a to form a loop 21 of next to the lowest height. The yarn has been raised over the next two wires 38h and 30e and has been formed into loops 21 against the rear surfaces of the succeeding two wires 30d, 30e. The yarn has been raised over` wires 301 and 30g and formed into loops 21 against the rear surfaces of wires 30h and 3D1', and finally raised over Wire 30j. When the wires 30a-307' are successively withdrawn, the loops shown in longitudinal row I in Fig. 2 are formed as follows: y

Upon withdrawal of wire 30a, loop 21 remains unchanged in height, but, upon withdrawal of wire 3011, the loop thereover is increased in height to form a loop 29 of the height of the spoon of the wire and loop 21 is reduced in height to become a loop 2B of lowest height. The withdrawal of wire 301) leaves the yarn thereover as a loop 29 of maximum height, but, when Wire 30C is withdrawn, that loop is reduced to form a loop 28 of next to maximum height. When wire 30e is withdrawn, the yarn thereover is left as a loop 29 of maximum height, and the withdrawal of wire 30d has no effect on the height of loop 29. Also, the withdrawal of wire 30d has no effect on loop 27 lying against the rear face of the wire. When wire 30e is withdrawn, it leaves behind a loop 27 of next to the lowest height, and that loop is converted into a loop 2B of lowest height by withdrawal of wire The loopy Z0 of maximum height left upon withdrawal of wire 301 is reduced in height to form a loop of next to maximum height by withdrawal of wire 30g, and the loop of yarn raised over wire 30g remains as a loop 2S of maximum height, which is unaffected by withdrawal of wire 30h. Loop 21 lying against the rear face of wire 30h is unchanged by the withdrawal of both wires 30h and 30z', but loop 27, remaining after withdrawal of wire 351i, is reduced to form a loop upon withdrawal of wire j.

The manner of forming the longitudinal rows of loops l1, III, and IV in Fig; 2 is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, respectively, and it will be observed that, upon the withdrawal of the wires 30 inserted as illustrated in each of Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the loops shown in rows II, III, and IV will result. In the formation of the rows of loops I-IV, inclusive, the pile warp yarns are so handled that each transverse row of loops in the fabric between a pair of filling yarns 2| in the upper level includes a loop of each of the four different heights. It is not necessary that this arrangement be employed and a Wide variation in the arrangement and distribution of the loops of ifferent heights may be obtained. There are, however, certain limitations in that, in any longitudinal row, a loop 2Q of maximum height must be followed by a loop, which was raised against the rear surface of a wire rather than over the wire. Ordinarily, a loop 2E of minimum height will be followed by a loop formed by raising of the yarn over a wire, but this is not necessarily the case.

In the production of a pile fabric, in which there are pile loops of nve different heights, a set of wires made up of spoon wires 33 and plain wires 34 arranged in alternation are employed, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the plain wires having a height different from the height of the blade of the spoon wires. For example, the plain wires employed may have a height of .220 and the spoon wires may have a blade height of .250 and a spoon height of .300. The loops 35 raised by the action of a filling yarn against the rear face of a wire may have an initial height of .130.

When a pile warp yarn 30 is handled in the shed in the manner shown in Fig. 7, the withdrawal of the wires, one after another, has the following effects. The withdrawal of spoon wire 33 has no effect on loop 35, which has a height of .130, except to permit it to align itself with other loops in the same transverse row. The withdrawal of the plain wire 04 leaves a loop 3? of a height of .220 and does not affect loop 35. The withdrawal of spoon wire 33a leaves a loop 38 of a height of .300", and, at the same time, reduces the height of loop 3l by .050, the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of wire 33a. Loop 3l is, accordingly, converted into loop 37a having a height of .170". The withdrawal of plain wire Zilla` does not affect loop 30, so that it remains of maximum height, and loop 30, raised against the rear surface of wire 34a, has an initial height of .130". The withdrawal of wire 33h converts loop 40 thereover to a loop a of the maximum height of .300, and, at the same time, converts loop 39 into loop 39a, having a. height of .080". Upon withdrawal of the third plain wire 34h, the loop 40a in the preceding row remains of maximum height, and the loop 4i raised over wire 34h is left with a height of .220. The withdrawal of the fourth spoon wire 33e is without effect on loop 0l, and loop 42 raised against the rear surface of the wire isv left with a height of .130". The withdrawal of the fourth plain wire 30C leaves a loop i3 of a height of .220". The withdrawal of the fifth spoon wire 33d converts loop i3 to a loop 43a of a height of .170" and converts the loop it over the blade of wire 33d and initially of a height of .250, to a loop Mn of a maximum height of .300. The withdrawal of the fth plain wire 36d does not affect loop Mia and leaves a loop d5 of a height of .220.

The fabric, illustrated in Fig. 0, thus includes loops of five different heights, which are .300", the height of the spoon of a spoon wire .220", the height of a plain wire .170", the height of a plain wire less the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire .130, the height of a loop pushed up by a filling yarn against the rear surface of a wire, and

.000, the height of a pushed-up loop less the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire.

It will be readily apparent that the successive pile warp yarns across the fabric may be handled to `produce loops of different height in the same transverse row, so that, as shown in Fig. 9, such a row may include loops of all iive diiferent heights designated, respectively, d5, fil, and 30.

The production by the method of the invention of a pile fabric containing loops of six different heights is illustrated in Fig. l0, and the fabric is woven by the use of a set er" spoon wires 3i and plain wires 552 arranged in alternation in pairs. FI he spoon wires illustrated have a spoon height of .300" and a blade height of .250, while the plain wires have a blade height of .220. The loops pushed up against the rear surfaces of the wires'by the action of weft threads illustrated having a height of .130".

When the warp yarn 53 is handled in relation to the wires, as shown in Fig. l0, and the wires thereafter successively withdrawn, the yarn formed into the loops shown ll, in which the loop is one of the height o?? .300 and loop 03 the height of .250". Loop which is a normal plain wire loop, a height of .220, and loop 1:5?, which is a plain wire loop reduced in height by the difference between the heights of the spoon and blade of a spoon wire. has a height or .170". Loop es, which a loop' pushed up by the action of a weft 'thread and has remained unchanged, has a height of .130, while loop 53, which was a pushed-up loop, the height of which has been reduced by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blame of a spoon wire, has a height of .080.

The fabric shown in l2 has been made by the method illustrated in Figs. 10 and l1, and the pile warp yarns have been handled in the shed in such manner that a single transverse row of loops contains loops of all sin heights, designated Si, 02, 03, 04, 05, and 20, respectively. It will be apparent from that, in the weaving of a fabric by the method illustrated in Figs. 1K0 and ll. it is possible to obtain unusual effects in the prie, as, for example, the lowest loops 5i may be used as the ground, with the figures in the design formed by the highest loops 66. inclusive, may then be used to outline the gure areas. Similar effects can be obtained in the weaving of fabric by the new method with spoon wires only and with a set of wires made up of spoon wires and plain wires alternating, one and one.

In the weaving of pile fabrics by any of the forms of the new method, the wires used must be chosen as to height and the height of the loops pushed up by the action of weft threads must also be selected, with the following considerations in mind. If spoon wires alone are employed, the difference in height between the spoon and the blade of the wires must be less than the height of the loops pushed up by weft threads, since otherwise the withdrawal of a spoon wire may wholly eliminate a pushednup loop in the preceding transverse row. rlhis will be apparent from Fig. 3, in which the yarn 25 has been pushed up into loops 21 behind wires Bild and 30e and then raised over wire Slf. If the difference between the heights of the spoon and blade of wire 30j is equal to the height of a loop 2, the withdrawal of the wire will cause loop 2l in the preceding row to disappear. If the difference between the heights of the spoon and blade of Wire 3M is greater than the height of a loop 22', the withdrawal of the wire will wholly eliminate the loop 2 in the preceding row and will reduce the height of loop 2".' in the second preceding row. rIhe total elimination of a loop in the manner described is objectionable, as a hole in pile results and the backing is exposed.

When both spoon and plain wires are used in the practice of the new method, the difference between the heights of the spoon and blade of the spoon wires should be less than the height of the plain wires, and also less than the height of the loops pushed up by the action of the weft threads. The reason for this will be apparent from Fig. 7. If the difference between the heights of the spoon and blade of the wires employed as shown in that figure is greater than the height of any of the plain wires and greater than the height of any of the pushed-up loops, the withdrawal of wire 33a will wholly eliminate loop 3l, and the withdrawal of wire 33h will wholly eliminate loop 39.

In the weaving of a fabric by the use of plain and spoon wires in alternation, as shown in Fig. 7, the plain wires may have the same height as the blade of a spoon wire, and the fabric will still have loops of ve heights in the pile. The reason for this is that the height of the blade of a spoon wire does not determine the height of any loop. In the weaving of a fabric by the use of the spoon and plain wires in alternation, two and two, the plain wires should have a height different from that of the blade of the spoon wires. The reason is that, in weaving with such a set of wires, a yarn raised over both spoon wires of a pair will be left upon withdrawal of the wires in the form of two loops, the first of which has the height of the blade of the wire, and the second, the height of the spoon. Accordingly, if the plain wires have the same height as the blade of a spoon wire, the fabric will contain loops formed in two different ways but of the same height.

While the loops pushed up by the action of weft threads may have a height comparable with that of a plain wire or of the blade of a spoon wire ordinarily used, it is preferable to adjust the loom so that the pushed-up loops are the next to the lowest in the fabric and thus lower than the The loops 622-65,

height of a plain wire or of the blade of a spoon wire.

In the foregoing, I have described the use of the method of the invention in the weaving of plain or tapestry carpeting having a simple backing construction and having a pile made up entirely of loops. In the practice of the different forms of the method as described, all the spoon wires used in a set are of the same dimensions and all the plain wires in a set are also alike. It will be apparent that the practice of the method is not restricted by the backing construction adopted and, in any set of wires, the spoon wires may differ among themselves and plain wires of different dimensions may also be used. The effects of employing such a set of dissimilar Wires may be readily determined in advance and, by their` use, loops of many different heights may be obtained in the pile. Ordinarily, the use of loops of four to six different heights will give a full range of decorative effects.

If desired, the pile of fabrics made in accordance with the method may contain tufts and, since such tufts should be a little higher than the highest loops, in order that the tufts may be finished by shearing their ends, the tufts are ordinarily formed by providing the spoon wires with knives at the outer ends of their spoons. If such cutting spoon wires are employed, the pattern used should not require a yarn raised over a cutting spoon wire to be raised over an immediately following spoon Wire, since the withdrawal of the second wire will pull down the second leg of the tuft left by withdrawal of the rst Wire and the tuft will have legs of unequal height. This is considered undesirable, particularly since the lower tuft leg can not be sheared. It follows that the set of wires used should not be made up entirely of cutting spoon wires. If the plain wires have a blade of greater height than that of the spoon wires, as is permissible, all the plain wires may be equipped with knives. Here again, care should be taken to avoid the pulling down of the second leg of any tuft.

I claim:

1. In a method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided with a set of pile wires, at least some of which have a spoon at the free end of the blade, the steps of raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of said blades, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and of a height at least as great as the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the spoon wires, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows o-f loops, the withdrawal of each spoon wire increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and simultaneously decreasing the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said Wire.

2. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile Warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided with a set of wires having a spoon at the free end of the blade, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of said blades, raising any7 pile yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to ici-in loops lying against the rear face ci' the wire and of a height at least as great as the diilerence etween the heights of the spoon and the blade of the wires, and successively withdrawing the Wires to leave transverse rows oi loops, `the withdrawal of each wire both increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wi to the height of the spoon `of the wire and de- 1 creasing the height of all the loops or the sv yarns in the preceding transverse row by t. Y, difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

3. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above `the backing on a looni provided with a set ci wires having a spoon at the free end of the blade, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with ,a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height ci said blades, raisingv any pile yarns, which were not raised over a wire, 'to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and oi a height diierent from that of the blade of the wires and at least as great as the difference between the heights or" the spoon and the blade ci the wires, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal of each lwire both increasing the height of the loops oi the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade or" said wire.

e. .A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchoredfin the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided wth a set of wires having a spoon at the free end of the blade, which comprises raising pile lwarp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of sai-d blades, raising any pile yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and of a height less than that of the blade of the wires and at least as great as the `difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the wires, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal ,of each wire both increasing the height .of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

5. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided with a set of pile wires made up of plain wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end alternating with wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade, the blade of the plain wires having a height at least as great as the diierence between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the spoon wires, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades oi the wires to forrn transverse rows of loops of the height of the blades of the wires, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and oi a height at least equal to the diiierence between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows oi loops, the withdrawal of a spoon wire both increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the lheight of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

6. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other` pon tions raised above the backing on a loom pro yvided. with a set of pile wires made up of plain wires having a blade of uniform height from eno to end alternating with wires having a of uniform height troni end to end and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade, the blade or the plain wires having a height different from that of the blade oi a spoon Wirer and at least as great as the diierence between the heights of the spoon and t e blade of the spoon wires, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a tern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades oi the wires to forni transe verse rows or" loops ci the height of the blades 4of wires, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to forni loops lying against the rear face of the wire Vand of a height different from that of a plain wire and at least equal to the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire, and successively withdrawing the wires 'to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal or" a spoon wire both increasing the height of the loops .of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon oi the wire and the height oi all the loops of the saine yarns in the preceding transverse row by the dieryence between the heights of the spoon and the blade oi said wire.

7. A method of weaving a pile fabric up of a backing and pile warp yarns having vportions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom providedwifth a set or" pile wires madek up of plain wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end alternating with wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade, the blade oi the plain wires having a height less than that of the blade of a spoon wire and at least as great as the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the spoon wires, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of 1I the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of the blades of the wires, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and of a height less than that of a plain wire and at least equal to the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal of a spoon wire both increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the height of all the loops of the saine yarns in the preceding transverse row by the diiference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

8. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided with a set of pile wires made up of spoon wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade and plain wires having a blade of a height, which is uniform from end to end of the blade and is at least as great as the difference between the heights of the spoon and blade of the spoon wires, the plain and spoon wires being arranged in alternation two and two in the set of wires, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of the blades of the wires, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and of a height at least equal to the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal of a spoon wire both increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the height of al1 the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

9. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided with a set of pile wires made up of spoon wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade and plain wires having a blade of a height, which is uniform from end to end of the blade, is different from that of the blade of a spoon wire, and is at least as great as the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the spoon wires, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of the blades of the wires, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and of a height at least equal to the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire, and successively withdrawing the wires to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal of a spoon wire both increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

10. A method of weaving a pile fabric made up of a backing and pile warp yarns having portions anchored in the backing and other portions raised above the backing on a loom provided with a set of pile wires made up of spoon wires having a blade of uniform height from end to end and a spoon of greater height at the free end of the blade and plain wires having a blade of a height, which is uniform from end to end of the blade, is less than that of the blade of a spoon wire, and is at least as great as the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of the spoon wires, which comprises raising pile warp yarns selected in accordance with a pattern in certain sheds, inserting the wires successively into such sheds, lowering the yarns across the blades of the wires to form transverse rows of loops of the height of the blades of the wires, raising any pile warp yarns, which were not raised over a wire, to form loops lying against the rear face of the wire and of a height at least equal to the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of a spoon wire, and successively with drawing the wires to leave transverse rows of loops, the withdrawal of a spoon wire both increasing the height of the loops of the yarns raised over the wire to the height of the spoon of the wire and decreasing the height of all the loops of the same yarns in the preceding transverse row by the difference between the heights of the spoon and the blade of said wire.

JOHN CRAWFORD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,163,135 Shuttleworth June 20, 1939 2,270,103 Baynton Jan. 13, 1942 2,318,080 Keen May 4, 1943 2,532,903 Groat Dec. 5, 1950 2,553,303 Crawford May 15, 1951 2,573,841 Groat Nov. 6, 1951 2,604,120 Groat July 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273,409 Great Britain July 6, 1927 

